Volume 1, Issue 46 February 17, 2010

U.S., Iraqi forces secure Mosul streetsBy Maj. Stephen Holt 2HBCT, 3rd Inf. Div. PAO

The Iraqi Army and U.S. Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, col-lected a large weapons and explosives cache in Ninawa province Feb. 7.

The combined forces acted on a tip that led them to a house located in the Al Zuhuer neighborhood of Mosul. When they discovered the extent of the cache, however, they called in an explo-sive ordnance disposal company.

Members of the 38th EOD, attached to the 2nd Brigade Heavy Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, out of Fort Stewart, Ga., responded, and dis-covered even more weapons and bomb-making materials throughout the house and behind false walls.

The following items were discovered in the cache: 26 AK-47 assault rifles, four Russian RPK/RPD 7.62mm squad automatic weapons, four long rifles of unknown origin, one bolt-action rifle of unknown origin, one sterling 9mm machine gun, one .22 cal. hand gun, 700 60mm mortar rounds, 125 82mm rounds, 100 mortar primers, 35 rocket-propelled grenade motors, three rocket launchers, seven RPG launchers, 40 grenades of unknown model and 50 Russian RGE-5 grenades.

The troops also confiscated several thousand Iraqi dinar and an Iraqi gas mask. as well as American military products including a pair of night vi-sion goggles, numerous optical weapon sights, five military-issue bulletproof ballistic armor plates and four body

armor vests.The cache further contained infra-

red sensors, wiring and IED electronic components, nine Iraqi license plates, more than 10,000 rounds of 7.62mm machine gun ammunition, several thousand feet of detonation cord, sev-eral thousand feet of explosive time fuse, seven boxes of projectile fuses, 30 pounds of rocket propellant and 10 boxes of 14.5mm ammunition.

Courtesy PhotoSergeant 1st Class Michael Barker takes part in inventorying a large weapons cache discovered in eastern Mosul, on Feb. 7. The cache consisted of more than 2,000 projec-tiles, 1,600 pounds of explosive material, AK-47s, RPG-7 launchers, IED wiring and initia-tion devices, mortar tubes and body armor.

Courtesy PhotoU.S. and Iraqi forces discover a large weapons cache in eastern Mosul Feb. 7, consisting of more than 2,000 projectiles, 1,600 pounds of explosive material and AK-47s.

See CACHE, Page 2

Page 2 • February 17, 2010The North Star

Female Signal Soldiers have unique opportunityBy Pvt. Zachary Zuber 3SBCT, 2nd Inf Div PAO

“I was amazed at how much work they had actually taken to plaster the walls up to make them look like the rest of the room. That’s a lot of work to hide something,” said 1st Sgt. Jerimiah Rae-mhild from 38th EOD. “It definitely was a long-term storage site for the weap-ons.”

It took about six hours for the Iraqi Army and Sol-diers to move the ordnance and weapons to waiting

trucks, said Sgt. 1st Class Michael Barker, 38th EOD. “We pulled out hundreds of pieces of ordnance, mortar tubes, AK-47s, projectiles, and improvised explosive device materials,” he said.

The Iraqi Army collected the equipment they could use; the rest, including all the electronic components and cell phones, was tagged, recorded and sent away for analysis. Specialists will look them over to answer

questions, like where the weapons came from, or what current techniques bomb-makers are using.

“We’re trying to get Mosul back to a state of normalcy,” said Sgt. Jeremy Robin-ette, 38th EOD. “Taking the weapons from this cache off the streets will create a bet-ter environment where Iraqi kids can grow up.”

During Sgt. Robinette’s first deployment to Iraq, his team leader lost part of

his arm and leg to an IED. Finding the cache was a big payoff, and he said it was a reward for all of the hard work his EOD Company was doing.

Sergeant Robinette said the unit is making a differ-ence.

“We saved lives that night,” he said. “We took assets away that could have been used in complex attacks or indirect fire, with minimal risk and loss.”

Soldiers in the 334th Signal Com-pany, 296th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, have a fairly typical daily routine. Usually it involves mis-sions, workouts, and in downtime, vid-eo games or other activities with their comrades.

No matter what each day brings, two female drivers and one .50 caliber gun-ner, 2nd Platoon, 334th Sig. Co., have different daily activities than most fe-male Soldiers.

“There aren’t many female drivers in the Army, but it’s just a job and anyone can do it,” said Spc. Diana Hildebrand,

a driver for 2nd Platoon, and a signal support specialist.

“I don’t segregate myself because I’m a female,” said Spc. Martha Mon-tes, 2nd Platoon, remote weapon sys-tem operator for her Stryker. “A Soldier is just a Soldier, and I try to do my job better than anyone else.”

Both are a prime example of how Soldiers, undaunted by challenges, can accomplish any task given to them. They work hard every day to take care of everyone in their platoon.

“Being a driver can be rough on any-one; your only concern is everyone else in your truck,” Spc. Hildebrand said. “They depend on me to get them where they are going safely.”

They start their days early, ensuring

everything on a vehicle works proper-ly to ensure the platoon can complete their mission.

“We do maintenance before every mission, checking radio equipment to make sure it is operational, and I check to make sure the weapons system is working,” Spc. Montes said.

These Soldiers don’t just work on the vehicles; they also use time off to improve on a personal level. Specialist Montes is currently completing cor-respondence courses and studying for her board to become a noncommis-sioned officer.

“I try to always be the best at what I do,” Spc. Montes said. “When I meet someone better than me, I try to learn as much from them as possible.”

March is Women’s History Month

Photo by Pvt. Zachary Zuber, 3SBCT, 2nd Inf. Div. PAOSpecialist Diana Hildebrand, 334th Signal Co., 296th BSB, 3rd SBCT, 2nd Inf. Div., programs radio frequencies for her Stryker. One of the few female Stryker drivers in the brigade, she has been the vehicle driver since the unit deployed to Iraq.

Continued from CACHE, Page 1

2010 will be the 30th anniver-sary of the National Women’s History Project. A lobbying effort resulted in President

Carter issuing a Presidential Proclamation declaring the

week of March 8, 1980, as the first National Women’s History Week. In 1987, another suc-

cessful lobbying effort resulted in Cogress expanding the week

into a month.

Page 3 • February 17, 2010The North Star

IA bomb disposal team trains on site exploitationBy Spc. Ry Norris3SBCT, 2nd Inf Div PAO

Two explosive ordnance disposal teams stood in the room, each with a specific task to complete. Their instruc-tors, one for each team, stood ready to assist if needed. The teams had smiles that stretched from ear to ear, itching to begin the search. As one instructor turned off the lights to begin the practi-cal application of the course, one team used a flashlight to find hidden clues while the other team waited their turn.

Explosive ordnance disposal teams have an important role. For every im-provised explosive device or bomb ar-rest they make, there is one less insur-gent on the street.

Iraqi Army Bomb Disposal, Field Engineer Regiment, 5th Division, part-ner with U.S. forces weekly to continue their EOD training in a Sensitive-Site Exploitation course at Forward Oper-ating Base Warhorse.

Sensitive-site exploitation refers to the process conducted by a specialized team on a site that has been deemed “sensitive,” or contains vital informa-tion. EOD will exploit a site after the detonation of an explosive device. The process entails the collection of re-mains, or evidence, that are carefully examined to establish a case file to find or to prosecute personnel involved in its’ creation.

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Gregory, an explosive ordnance dispos-al technician with the Explosive Ord-nance Disposal Mobile Unit 12, Com-pany 1, Platoon 2, is the lead instructor for the SSE course. His unit worked with the IA for four months.

“These guys are already EOD trained. This course was basically designed to further expand their knowledge,” Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Gregory said.

Taught by two instructors with the help of an interpreter, the course in-cludes post blast analysis, documenting fingerprints, dusting for fingerprints and executing latent lifts, a technique used to recover fingerprints.

Fingerprints of detainees are taken for two reasons: to document their of-fence and to see if their prints match an on-going case. The IA were taught

the importance of fingerprints and preserving the integrity of sensitive sites during the four-day course. Once an EOD technician diffuses an impro-vised explosive device, he can “lift” the fingerprints found on it to input into a database. When a suspect is detained, his fingerprints can be analyzed to see if it’s a match to the IED.

Staff Sergeant Jennifer Garcia, with the Weapons Intelligence Team 12, 203rd Military Intelligence Team Bat-talion, Task Force Troy, is an instructor for the course. She explained that in the past when the IA gathered evidence, they relied on the U.S. military to com-plete the process.

“We are preparing them for the eventual withdrawal of U.S. forces,” said Staff Sgt. Garcia.

The course is instrumental in assist-ing the IA to create a safer Iraq.

“I’d like to thank the (U.S. forces) for their support regarding the training and supplies they’ve given us. I have learned how everything comes together like a mystery to solve,” said Iraqi Army Sgt. Muhsin Wahab with Company 1, Bomb Disposal unit.

“What you see here is just a small piece,” he said, while pointing to the explosion site.

Photo by Spc. Rye Norris, 3SBCT, 2nd Inf. Div. PAOIraqi Army Sgt. Muhammed Dhahooy Henwan Al-Khaledi, with Co. 1, Bomb Disposal, FER, 5th Div. is conducting a latent lift during a Sensitive-Site Exploitation course at FOB Warhorse, Feb. 11. Executing a latent lift is a technique used to recover prints from an object.

Photo by Spc. Rye Norris, 3SBCT, 2nd Inf. Div. PAOSabah Georges, an interpreter attached to U.S. Navy EOD Mobile Unit 12, translates how to examine and compare fingerprints to Iraqi Army Pfc. Fo’ad Obead Kanser Al-Jerwani, with Co. 1, Bomb Disposal, FER, 5th Div. and Pfc. Sa’ed Ne’mah Majhool Al-Jeboori with Co. 2, during a Sensitive-Site Exploitation course at FOB Warhorse, Feb. 11. The SSE course is instrumental in assisting the IA to creating a safer Iraq.

Page 4 • February 17, 2010The North Star

Task Force Marne Heroes of the NorthPrivate Brian Tart with the 1235th Financial Management Company, 3153rd Financial Management Detachment performed on the Financial Management Support Team mission during this month with outstanding results. He processed casual pays to Soldiers in an austere location without error or lost of funds. As a cashier, Pvt. Tart was accountable for 36 load transactions for more than $92,000, 29 checks for almost $40,000 and 454 sales transactions for more than $96,000 also without error or loss of funds. Private Tart’s complete dedication makes him instrumental to the Sykes team’s success, and his motivation and attention to detail is second to none. His determination to accomplish all tasks in a timely and accurate manner is a quality shown early and often and he routinely displays the skills to perform cashier duties in an extraordinary manner. Private Tart is truly an asset to the 1235th FMC, 3153rd FMD and the U.S. Army Finance Corps and is most worthy of selection as Task Force Marne’s Hero of the North.

Specialist Jason Ipp is a Signal Support Systems Specialist and communications secu-rity custodian for 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment at Contingency Operating Site Warrior. Over the last four months, Spc. Ipp has demonstrated his technical proficien-cy by maintaining all primary and redundant radio systems for the Tactical Operations Center without fail. Most recently, Spc. Ipp configured the radio system used on the AC-208 “Caravan,” an airplane used by the Iraqi Air Force. This configuration enabled the Iraqi Air Force to communicate with Army aviation assets and facilitated the es-tablishment of a common air operations net for air operations at COS Warrior. His hard work and dedication linked U.S. and Iraqi aviation, enhanced partnership efforts and increased airfield safety and situational awareness. For his untiring efforts and continuous contribution to the mission, Spc. Ipp is selected as the Task Force Marne Hero of the North.

Courtesy PhotoWest Point Cadet Cody Waterman, son of Chief Warrant Of-ficer 3 Gregg Waterman, made the Dean’s List during his freshman year at the United States Military Academy. Chief Warrant Officer 3 Waterman serves as the mobility warrant officer for Task Force Marne. Chief Warrant Officer Water-man is proud of his son because he made the decision to go to West Point and prepared the application himself.

Head of the Class

History of the veilMost Muslim women today

do not wear a full face veil. It is more common to see wom-en inthe hijab, which is loose clothing topped by a type of scarf, worn around the head and under the chin.

Women don’t share a com-mon style nor have the same reasons for wearing hijab. For many it reflects the belief that they are following Allah’s commandments by dressing according to “the correct stan-dard of modesty,” or simply are wearing the type of tradi-tional cloths in which they feel comfortable.

With the trend to revive or create Islamist movements, women have continued to take up the modest covering of the hijab. Within women’s groups the debate over its use also continues. Some progressive

groups, such as the Women’s Action Forum (WAF) in Paki-stan, explicitly condemn all at-tempts to impose a dress code on women. They argue that those who do not conform to it are stigmatized. They say that it denies women the freedom to decide on their own appear-ance. Women’s groups en-dorsing a strict interpretation of Islam, on the other hand, aggressively promote dress codes, putting out informa-tion sheets listing its require-ments. For women wishing to pur-sue professional and public social lives, wearing hijab al-lows freer movement outside the confines of the home. This upwardly mobile group is defining new roles for them-selves, not defending tradi-tional ones by wearing hijab.

Cultural Tidbit Special to the North Star

The North Star

TASK FORCE MARNECommanding General - Maj. Gen. Tony Cucolo

Command Sergeant Major - Command Sgt. Maj. Jesse L. Andrews Jr.

Task Force Marne Public Affairs StaffTF Marne PAO – Maj. Jeff Allen

TF Marne PA NCOIC – Master Sgt. Marcia Triggs

TF Marne Writer- Sgt. Johnathon Jobson

Editorial StaffManaging Editor – Master Sgt. Marcia Triggs

Acting Editor- Sgt.Chad D. Nelson

THE North StarThe North Star is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. Army. Contents of The North Star are not necessarily official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army or the 3rd Infantry Division. All editorial content of The North Star is prepared, edited, provided and approved by the Task Force Marne Public Affairs Office.

Regional Headlines

4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team,1st Infantry Division

2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team,3rd Infantry Division

3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team,2nd Infantry Division

1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team,1st Armored Division

25th Combat Aviation Brigade,25th Infantry Division

130th Engineer Brigade135th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Page 5 • February 17, 2010

(All times listed are local Iraq time)

-Feb. 19, 12 a.m.: Men’s Biathlon 20km Individual-Feb. 21, 4 a.m.: Mens Two-Man Bobsled - Heat 1-Feb. 21, 5:30 a.m.: Men’s Two-Man Bobsled - Heat 2-Feb. 21, 9:45 p.m.: Men’s Biathlon 15km Mass Start-Feb. 22, 12:30 a.m.: Men’s Two-Man Bobsled - Heat 3-Feb. 22, 1:45 a.m.: Men’s Two-Man Bobsled - Heat 4-Feb. 24, 4 a.m.: Women’s Bobsled - Heat 1-Feb. 24, 5 a.m.: Women’s Bobsled - Heat 2-Feb. 25, 4 a.m.: Women’s Bobsled - Heat 3-Feb. 25, 5 a.m.: Women’s Bobsled - Heat 4-Feb. 26, 10:30 p.m.: Men’s Biath-lon 4x7.5km Relay-Feb. 27, 12 a.m.: Men’s Four-Man Bobsled - Heat 1-Feb. 27, 1:30 a.m., Men’s Four-Man Bobsled, Heat 2-Feb. 28, 12 a.m.: Men’s Four-Man Bobsled, Heat 3-Feb. 28, 1:15 a.m.: Men’s Four-Man Bobsled - Heat 4

Vancouver Schedule

2010 Winter Olympic Games Medal Count

United States

Germany

France

Canada

2

2

1

1

2

3

0

2

4

1

2

1

8

5

4

4

Forget red and blue — color America white. There was snow on the ground in 49 states Friday. Hawaii was the holdout.

It was the United States of Snow, thanks to an unusual combination of weather patterns that dusted the U.S., including the skyscrapers of Dallas, the peach trees of Atlanta and the Florida Panhandle, where hurricanes are more common than snowflakes.

More than two-thirds of the nation’s land mass had snow on the ground when the day dawned, and then it snowed ever so slightly in Florida to make it 49 states out of 50.

At the same time, those weird weath-er forces are turning Canada’s Winter Olympics into the bring-your-own-snow games.

Who’s the Great White North now?

49 states dusted with snow; Hawaii’s the holdoutAssociated Press

“I’m calling it the upside-down win-ter,” said David Robinson, head of the Global Snow Lab at Rutgers University in New Jersey.

Snow paralyzed and fascinated the Deep South on Friday. Snowball fights broke out at Southern Mississippi Uni-versity, snow delayed flights at the busy Atlanta airport, and Louisiana hard-ware stores ran out of snow supplies.

Andalusia, Ala., shut down its streets because of snow. And yet, Portland, Maine, where snow is usually a given, had to cancel its winter festival for lack of the stuff.

The idea of 50 states with snow is so strange that the federal office that collects weather statistics doesn’t keep track of that number and can’t say whether it has ever happened. The of-fice can’t even say whether 49 out of 50 has ever taken place before.

As of Friday morning, 67.1 percent of the U.S. had snow on the ground.